Regarding the A3 roundabout at New Malde (From Surrey Comet)

Regarding the A3 roundabout at New Malde

8:50am Thursday 24th March 2011 in Your Say

Regarding the A3 roundabout at New Malden At last the roadworks to the A3, where the Malden Road between New Malden and Worcester Park crosses the A3 has finished.

Sadly, as half expected, it is worse than it was. Incidentally, I’m no NIMBY, having commuted to central London for 30 years plus by train, car motor bike and bicycle, the latter for ten years plus.

Firstly, the surface that I imagine was the basic reason for the work, is poor, being initially rough. I assume the project manager was so concentrating on the alleged ‘improvements’, that he did not worry about the surface too much. One can only hope this poor workmanship is not reflected in the longevity of the surface.

As for the other things, the lane marking is poorly thought out and inefficient as well as possibly dangerous and the road signs a mess.

Currently the lanes are largely ignored and we will have to await the locals getting used to the changes but the problems are becoming clear.

I suspect my son is right, the best solution, though not perfect, is traffic lights like Tolworth. If not possible, do nothing.

The new system does not formally allow the problem of the evening rush to be handled efficiently.

Usually there is a static queue around the roundabout blocking traffic, from the slip road from off the A3 going south, from turning left into Malden Road towards Worcester Park and Cheam etc.

Prior to the changes this was partly alleviated by traffic from New Malden going down the A3 to the south being able to hug the inside lane near the roundabout to avoid the queue of traffic.

Under the new marking scheme this is no longer legal. It will clearly, luckily, be widely ignored. As for the lane directing all traffic around the outside-well!

Maybe it's me but I have been constantly almost caught out by traffic that you expect to turn into the road you are emerging from, continuing on around the outside of the roundabout towards further exits!

Finally, there is the direction marking. I don’t know about you but as a local I do not normally look at these signs to show where to go. When in strange terrain I use them.

Usually with lots of other things to pay attention to - like other traffic, I as I approach a major junction I mentally count how many turns around the junction I need to leave by eg 3rd turn off the roundabout.

I imagine lots of people use this system. Yet as you approach the roundabout from New Malden the sign suggests the A3 is the 2nd junction ie towards Worcester Park.

I understand the faulty logic used and that it means you are supposed to proceed around the roundabout and look at the exit signs but unfortunately that is not how I function in heavy traffic in strange territory often in the dark.

It seems the designer was a local with little imagination or driving experience.

Ah well, it’s only taxpayers money!

GRAHAM ARCHER
New Malden